Press conference - opening season 2011 - Keukenhof - Lisse - Holland

Press conference - opening season 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Tomorrow we will celebrate the 62^nd opening of Keukenhof to the public. Over the many happy years that lie behind us, the splendour of Keukenhof’s flowers has brought joy to millions.

At first it looked as if this winter was going to turn out much like the previous one. Happily, our fears were unfounded. It turned into a proper Dutch winter - cold, but without extremes.
The way things are looking now, this Dutch winter is being followed by a beautiful spring, and a beautiful spring means another splendid Keukenhof in bloom.
Our professional gardeners have once again done their best to get the park into perfect shape for the visitors. 

Our landscape architect and the design team have achieved even more variety with an assortment of early flowering, middle flowering and late flowering bulbs. This means that there will always be plenty of plants flowering in the park. At present the crocuses and snowdrops are in full bloom, and the first daffodils and early tulips are also displaying their vibrant colours. The flower beds have been so designed that they form a harmonious whole with their surroundings.

Now the winter is more or less behind us and the temperatures are slowly rising, spring will soon be bursting forth and you will be able to enjoy all the beautiful colours and wonderful smells of Keukenhof’s flowering bulbs.

It is the time of year that people start to long for the spring and they head outdoors in search of nature.

Once again, we will be ready for them with the most beautiful spring park in the world!

Japan
 Our thoughts are with our friends in Japan, who have suffered so much following the dramatic event that occurred on Friday 11 March off the coast of Sendai.

There will undoubtedly be fewer Japanese tourists this year, which is perfectly understandable given the circumstances, and we wish our friends there every strength for the reconstruction of their country. 

Introduction
Today I will be concentrating on what is new in our park.
For complete information, please refer to the extensive press folder which also contains a lot of traditional information about the park.
However, for the sake of completeness, I will summarise our key facts:

• Keukenhof is and will continue to be the international and independent showcase for the Dutch floriculture industry, with an emphasis on flower bulbs;
• Keukenhof remains one of the world’s most photographed locations;
• Keukenhof is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Netherlands, with almost 45 million visitors over the last 60 years;
• Of the roughly 7 million bulbs we plant every year, more than 4.5 million are tulips in 1000 different varieties.

62 Years of Keukenhof
This year, Keukenhof is opening its doors to the public for the 62^nd time. During each of those 62 years we have offered our visitors a special and colourful flower experience. Over the last 62 years, Keukenhof has grown to become one of the most important tourist destinations in the Netherlands.

Theme for 2011: Germany – Land of Poets and Philisophers
The choice did not fall on Germany by chance. Germany is the Netherlands’ number one trading partner. As well as highlighting the trading relationship between Germany and the Netherlands during this year’s Keukenhof, we will be taking a light-hearted look at the common factors uniting the both countries.

This central theme will be presented in various ways throughout our beautiful park.

Germany, one of Europe’s most important economic centres, is also a favourite destination for many Dutch tourists.
Every year there are around 10 million Dutch overnight stays in Germany, meaning that Germany has overtaken France as the most popular tourist destination for the Dutch. This year, Keukenhof is honouring a special country with a special past with the theme ‘Germany – Land of Poets and Philosophers’.

Frau Bettina Wulff opens Keukenhof 2011
The 62^nd edition of the Keukenhof international flower exhibition will be officially opened by Mrs Bettina Wulff, in the presence of her husband Christian Wulff, President of the Federal Republic of Germany and His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange. 

Today Mrs Bettina Wulff will have the honour of giving her name to a new tulip variety.

Theme Attractions
The theme of this year’s Keukenhof is presented in various attractions along the main central route through the park which connects the two entrances. I will describe the most important attractions here:

Welcome Sign

Visitors are welcomed at both entrances by a welcome sign with a photo of the Brandenburg Gate and a sculpture comprising stacks of books (title of the sculpture: ‘Der moderne Buchdruck’, Berlin) surrounded by red tulips.

Muscari River

At the end of the Muscari River with its grape hyacinths to the left of the Main Entrance, there is a large photo of the Deutsches Eck (‘German Corner’) in Koblenz. This is the headland where the Mosel joins the Rhine, and also the location of the Bundesgartenschau horticulture show.

Netherlands-Germany Experience

The Dutch and Germans are similar in many ways, but there are also many differences between the two peoples. In the ‘Netherlands-Germany’ experience theatre in the Juliana pavilion these similarities and differences can be experienced during a light-hearted show lasting around eight minutes.

Poets and Philosophers

Signs displaying texts by famous writers and thinkers such as Einstein, Karl Marx, Goethe, Kant, Luther, Böll, Nietzsche, Hesse and Calvin can be found between the main entrance and the drawbridge.

Wooden busts of the classical composers Bach, Beethoven and Brahms can be found opposite the Historic Garden.

Floral Mosaic

Last year in October, His Excellency Heinz-Peter Behr, the German ambassador and Walter Jansen, chairman of Keukenhof’s Board of Directors, ceremoniously planted the last bulbs in the Berlin Brandenburg Gate flower bulb mosaic. The mosaic will flower in all its glory during the month of April. Indeed the press will be invited to photograph this spectacular flower presentation. The mosaic next to the Oranje Nassau Pavilion is a stylised portrait of the Brandenburg Gate created using around 100,000 flower bulbs.

Oranje Nassau Pavilion

The indoor show in the Oranje Nassau Pavilion recalls the atmosphere of Berlin in the 1920s and ‘30s, with revue, cabaret and Marlene Dietrich. The restaurant in the Oranje Nassau Pavilion has been decorated with photos of Germany and the menu offers traditional German dishes.

Walk of Fame

The Walk of Fame next to the Oranje Nassau Pavilion contains flowers with famous names and flowers with a connection to the Germany theme. The entire length of the main walkway is decorated with flower boxes containing flowers with German names, such as Berliner Flair, Victor Mundi and Lustige Witwe.

Children’s Farm

This year the children’s farm is host to a number of German animals, such as the Schwarzkopf (black head) sheep. The children’s farm is decorated in the style of the Grimm fairy tales, with Little Red Riding Hoodood and The Wolf and the Seven Kids.

Miffy

The youngest visitors can have fun in the Miffy playground next to the children’s farm. This playground will be visited by Miffy herself on Thursday, 24 March at 10.45 a.m.

Inspirational Gardens

A German inspirational garden has been created in collaboration with the Bundesgartenschau horticulture show, which is taking place in Koblenz this year. A wall of wine bottles, frames and grapevines can be found in this garden.  

Willem Alexander Pavilion

A Kaffee und Kuchen theme provides the decor for the Willem Alexander Pavilion.

Flower Delivery Vans

At the Extra Entrance is an old Volkswagen Transporter that has been decorated as a flower delivery van.

Flower Parade on Saturday 16 April
On Saturday, 16 April, the annual Bollenstreek Flower Parade departs from Noordwijk on its forty-kilometre journey to Haarlem, passing Keukenhof on Keukenhof Corso Boulevard in the afternoon. More than 20 floats filled with millions of flowers will demonstrate once again why the Flower Parade is called “the face of spring”.

The theme of the 2010 Flower Parade is: ‘Musical Parade’. The Keukenhof’s float has been decorated in the style of 1920s and 1930s Berlin, with revue, cabaret and Marlene Dietrich.

2011 Show Calendar
From 24 March to 20 May, Keukenhof presents a continuous floral abundance of unprecedented beauty in three specially designed pavilions

This year there are around sixteen indoor shows, both permanent and temporary. They promise visitors a genuine ‘spring experience’, with thousands of delightful flowers and colours in classic, contemporary and futuristic arrangements. Thanks to these indoor shows, Keukenhof is always fun to visit, whatever the weather: a guaranteed spring sensation for nine whole weeks!

Oranje Nassau Pavilion

25 to 29 March:                       Amaryllis, Freesias and Tulips       
31 March to 5 April:                 Chrysanthemums
7 to 12 April:                            Gerberas
14 to 19 April:                          Narcissi, Daffodils and special bulbs
21 to 26 April:                          Roses
28 April to 3 May:                    Alstroemeria
5 to 10 May:                             Asters, Irises, Limonium, Lisianthus and Lathyrus
12 to 20 May:                           Carnations, Zantedeschia, Bouvardias, Saintpaulia, Kalanchoe, Cut-flower Hortensias and Summer flowers

Beatrix Pavilion

24 March to 20 May:               Anthurium, Bromeliads and Orchids

Willem Alexander Pavilion:

24 to 30 March:                       Hyacinths
24 March to 25 April:              Flowering shrubs (Lilac, Viburnum, Prunus and Forsythia)
24 March to 6 May:                 Tulips and Narcissi (in beds)
24 March to 20 May:               Flowering bulbs: Irises, Narcissi, Daffodils, Tulip, Lilies, Amaryllis and more.
24 March to 20 May:               Bulb-in-pot presentation
24 March to 20 May:               Cyclamens, Potted Hydrangeas and Begonias
26 April to 20 May:                  Perennials
2 to 8 May:                               Cut Tulip and Garden Tulip show
12 to 20 May:                           Lilies 

Orchids add a dash of the exotic to Keukenhof
Alongside bulbs, cut flowers and plants, you can enjoy a huge range of orchids at Keukenhof. With around 25,000 varieties, the orchid family is the largest family of plants on earth. Orchids can be found all over the globe, with the exception of the polar regions. The Beatrix Pavilion contains a 1000m² display of hundreds of exotic flowers and plants in the most beautiful colours and varieties. Here you can also admire our display of Bromeliads and Anthuriums, open during the entire exhibition. The exhibition is proudly sponsored by KNOP (Dutch Orchid Producers).

Greatest Lily Show on Earth
From 12 to 20 May, more than 30,000 lilies in 300 different varieties will be on display in the world’s largest lily show. Annie Friesinger will give her name to a new lily variety celebrating the Germany theme during the opening on 12 May.

The variety of lily colours, types and applications will amaze and surprise you. The latest varieties along with some of the prettiest lilies will be on display in the Willem Alexander Pavilion. This is a sight you must not miss!

Keukenhof Inspirational Gardens 
Visitors gaze in admiration in the Keukenhof Inspirational Gardens, but they are also inspired and stimulated to plant flower bulbs in their own garden.

The seven gardens vary in size and each has its own individual character and theme. Germany is the theme of Keukenhof 2011. The inspiration for three of the gardens comes from this beautiful country. (ZDF - Mein Schöner Garten – Bundes Garten Schau) (Other gardens have been created with the help of Swedish, Belgian, Russian and Dutch media partners)

Catering Facilities
Our new catering partner Albron was able to evaluate the wishes and ideas of last year’s Keukenhof visitors.

The restaurants, which were completely renovated last year, have been modified somewhat on the basis of the experiences gained during the last Keukenhof. They now offer both local and international visitors the highest quality service and modern catering facilities. The restaurant in the Oranje Nassau Pavilion continues the German theme and is serving traditional German dishes. The other catering facilities have also been renovated so that visitors can enjoy food and refreshments in pleasant, modern surroundings.

The outdoor terraces of the Willem Alexander Pavilion and the Juliana Pavilion have also been completely renovated to allow our guests to enjoy the Keukenhof surroundings even more.

Retail
Last season was an educational one in the area of retail and merchandising too. The six shops were completely renovated.

A clearer distinction between Dutch souvenirs, Keukenhof merchandise, books and other products ensures that we have something to appeal to the tastes of every visitor. Our existing retail partner, World of Delights, has made good progress in merchandising. 

Boating and cycling through the bulb fields
In addition to cycling, you can take a boat trip through the bulb fields around Keukenhof.

The so-called ‘whisper boats’ are powered electrically and travel silently through the beautiful countryside of the bulb fields. The boats used are specially suited to the often shallow channels. These are old boats that were used in earlier times by market gardeners, growers and farmers for all sorts of purposes.

The boat trip takes one hour. Spectacular photo opportunities are guaranteed!

Unique Art at Keukenhof
Keukenhof is known not only for its millions of flowering bulbs, but also for its extensive collection of art.

More than one hundred sculptures and other artworks by well-known Dutch and German artists can be found in the park. This year, the artworks have a German theme and refer to the German saying: ‘In der Beschräkung zeigt sich der Meister’ (Translated as ‘It is in working within his limits that the master reveals himself’).

Shuttle Bus to Schiphol and Leiden 
The direct bus line between Keukenhof and Schiphol and the Leiden - Keukenhof bus line will double their services. These bus lines transport visitors to the spring in Lisse in less than 25 minutes.

This form of transport is used by increasing numbers of national and international visitors. 

Keukenhof Express
Starting this season, there will be coaches from all over the Netherlands to Keukenhof in cooperation with Brouwer tours. Travelling by coach will allow visitors to make the trip to Keukenhof without the hassles of travel by car or public transport. 

The ‘hop on – hop off’ bus service provided by Koninklijke Beuk is another new phenomenon in the bulb-growing district in 2011. This bus will travel up and down to the park five days a week, several times a day.

Schools
Keukenhof has set up an educational programme specially for primary school children.

An educational day trip starts in the Flower Bulb Information Pavilion, where the pupils are told about how flower bulbs are grown and used. Our volunteers from the ‘Groei & Bloei’ gardeners club provide information about planting, harvesting and peeling bulbs and the handy educational kits are a fun way for children to learn about the history of flower bulbs. 

Van Gogh
Keukenhof, Amsterdam Canal Cruises and the Van Gogh Museum now offer visitors the opportunity to visit the Netherlands’ top three tourist highlights. The Van Gogh tour combines the splendour of Keukenhof with the treasures of the Netherlands’ most famous painter, Vincent van Gogh. The tour is entitled ‘Van Gogh in Bloom’.

And is there a better way of discovering Amsterdam than by boat?

To Conclude
As in other years, the individual tours at 2 p.m. are free of charge. and are carried out by enthusiastic volunteers from the ‘Groei & Bloei’ gardeners club. 

This year Keukenhof is hosting many different events. Due to popular demand, falconry demonstrations are planned again. For up-to-date information about the calendar and planned events see www.keukenhof.nl, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

After today’s official opening, we will open our gates to the public again at 8 a.m. tomorrow. The Easter weekend is traditionally very busy, and we expect many local and international guests again this year.

Many activities will be held at Keukenhof over the Easter weekend, the highlight being the Easter Parade on Easter Monday, when Keukenhof will open its doors even earlier, at 7 a.m. 

Events

The following events are planned at Keukenhof in 2011:

26 - 27 March                       Keukenhof Classical Music Festival 
                                             light classical music
1 – 3 April                             Orchid Weekend
                                             orchid experts offer advice
1- 3 April                               National Costume Festival
                                               presentations, meet & greet, folk dancing and traditional Dutch craftsmanship show
8 – 10 April                           Summer Flower Bulb Weekend
                                             summer bulb market, planting demonstrations and gardening tips
9 April                                   DJO hiking club’s annual hike passes through Keukenhof
15 – 17 April                         Flower Parade weekend with musical theme      
                                             songs from musicals
16 April                                 Flower Parade
21 – 25 April                         Vincent van Gogh’s Flower Mosaic
                                             festive unveiling on 21 April
22 – 25 April                         Easter Weekend
                                              falconry show
                                             Easter rabbit and Easter egg painting
25 April                                 Easter Monday
                                              early birds (park opens at 7 a.m.), early bird breakfast, hat shows
                                              hat decorating workshop
29 April - 1 May                    Germany Weekend
                                             frühschoppen (traditional German brunch accompanied by folk music)
3 – 6 May                             4-day painting marathon
                                             artists at work
7 – 8 May                             Keukenhof for kids, by kids
                                            The Sandcastle children’s show in the Willem-Alexander Pavilion
7 May                                   Keukenhof by Night
                                             cycle through Keukenhof by night
12 – 20 May                         Greatest Lily Show on Earth
12 May                                  Festive opening of the lily exhibition by Anni Friesinger
13 – 16 May                         Shanty Choir Weekend
14 May                                  National Windmill Day
                                              the miller tells his tale...
20 May                                  Barrel Organ Day
                                              barrel organs at various locations throughout the park 

Today is the official opening of Keukenhof.

From tomorrow, Thursday 24 March until Sunday, 20 May, Keukenhof will be open to the public every day.

We hope to welcome you back often this season – to Keukenhof, the most beautiful spring park in the world.

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